Thursday, January 31, 2013

2. Resume appearance malfunction. Is your resume friendly to the beholder who wears bifocals? Non-standard fonts, small text with little to no space between sections, and narrow margins all raise red flags. Beyond the poor aesthetics, they may suggest you are the kind of person who is "bound and determined" to wedge too large a story into too small a space, rather than boiling down the salient aspects of your career achievements into a document which clearly speaks to the job to be filled.Solution: Remember that your resume is not your unabridged autobiography. You aren't obligated to show everything you have ever done and every place you worked. It's a marketing document onto which you should put the things that are most germane. Use a standard font at a reasonable type size and forget all the lines, graphics, pictures, and colors.

5. Resume evasiveness. There are many things that job hunters typically try to "fudge." Yet, overgeneralizations, squishy language, and omissions are not generally regarded well.

For example, job hunters in their 50s and 60s believe they can avoid age discrimination if they omit dates when degrees were earned. But just the opposite is the case. In attempting to skirt the age issue, you actually bring attention to it with your unstated but very clear message: "I don't want you to figure out how old I am based on when I attended college." Worse, you may potentially also raise the red-flag question: Is this job seeker trying to mask anything else of significance?

6. Key phrase banalities. Some job hunters aren't certain of how to go about the process of writing an effective resume, and so they resort to words and phrases found in resume-writing books and other templates that might be good starting points, but not ending points. By adhering too closely to them, you are likely to sound like everyone else, without conveying any understanding of what you are really trying to convey. Using hackneyed phrases like "hard worker," "out-of-the-box thinker," "team player," "excellent communications skills," etc., offer your own conclusion about your talents and work ethic. But they do nothing to cause the resume reader to believe you or to come to the same conclusion. Instead, show examples of your out-of-the-box solutions and talk about times when your actions really did benefit your team.

If you take the time to lower these red flags, you will raise the likelihood of gaining the respect and positive attention of those who own the resume game.

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

The beginning of a new year, particularly February, is the best time to look for a new job. Budgets are approved, new job requisitions are posted and your confidence is at an all-time high.

Every year in January I hear from hundreds of people ready to start a job search. They really want a new job. They’re eager to get started. And slowly but surely, they fail. It’s not a lack of talent, experience or desire. They’re just doing it wrong.

Are you ready for a new job in 2013? Here’s how not to be successful — guaranteed:

Lack self-awareness and confidence. If you don’t know and believe in your strengths, no one else will. If you come across as hesitant or unsure about your qualifications, you invite others to question your qualifications. Ignore your strengths, feedback from previous work experiences and doubt yourself — that will really help your chances.

Don’t tell anyone. The fewer people that know about your job search, the better. Keep it totally quiet and under wraps. Don’t get any feedback on your resume or strategy from friends or former colleagues. It’s also good to ignore any networking connections those friends might have.

Cold-apply to as many jobs as possible. Hide behind your computer and look for jobs at companies where you don’t know anyone. Find any job that sounds relatively interesting and apply. Don’t follow up, either. Sit back and wait for the calls to start pouring in. And when they don’t, keep applying. Volume is always better.

Let your resume speak for itself. Any savvy recruiter or hiring manager should be able to translate your resume to fit the job. Let them do it! Don’t customize your resume for the job. Don’t look for contacts in the organization that can help make your case for you. And definitely don’t do any informational or exploratory interviews to learn what matters most to a hiring manager or organization before you apply.

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

The CareerBliss annual 50 Happiest Companies in America awards is a great place to start your job search because these companies have been voted by their very own employees as a happy, rewarding workplace.

To reveal the top happiest companies, CareerBliss analyzes thousands of independent employee-submitted reviews. The reviews ask professionals to rank how they feel about key happiness factors at work, such as the culture of the company, compensation and people you work with.

“Being able to be truly happy at work is one of the keys to being happy in life,” says Heidi Golledge, CEO and Co-founder of CareerBliss. “CareerBliss recognizes companies that excel at providing happy work environments since it is a vital part of the CareerBliss mission to foster rich and rewarding work cultures for everyone.” Check out the full happiest companies below!

Monday, January 28, 2013

Earlier this month I shared three interview questions I used with success as the CEO of the Taproot Foundation. "Three Killer Interview Questions" was read by over 200,000 professionals and generated nearly 600 comments. Many people found it helpful, some thought the questions were idiotic and some even reported that research had demonstrated that interviews are not effective regardless of the questions.My favorite comments, however, were those from managers who shared their own "killer" interview questions. Here are the 32 interview questions you posted. Some are brilliant and others perhaps a little less so but I will let you be the judge.

What’s the biggest mistake you mistake you made in your life and what did you learn from it?

If in 3months you found the job not to be what you expected it to be, what would it look like?

What superhero would you be and why?

What is one misconception people have about you?

If you were a kitchen appliance what would you be?

Why shouldn’t I call for a reference and why?

So what are you going to do for us?

Who are your heroes and why?

What works for you and why? How can you increase your interaction with the energy generators? And what can you do to be one yourself?

Friday, January 25, 2013

What’s the secret to being a successful networker? Well, we all know how important it is to balance the online and offline networking and connecting what we are doing now.

We can’t only live online, or offline anymore. Each one is mutually interdependent and inter-related. They work so well in tandem.

Both have their importance, purpose and value. We know being “online” is simply smart and essential because that is where people converge, gather and interact. But, “offline” is where the true personal connections are made to explore the mutuality and develop the relationship. If you are not in physical proximity with someone, what are some of the ways and things you can do to accelerate relationship building?

Are you meeting, picking up the phone or Skyping regularly when you make new social friends?

How To Be A Successful Networker

Here are nine things you can do that will help you develop some warm connections, stand out, and be remembered.

1. Share Your Passion, Authenticity, And Story

People really connect with your real side and everyone has a story. It’s the new “elevator pitch.”

2. Target Your Audience

Learn about the community where you are meeting. Research and find out about them on websites, blogs and through others that may know about them, or are members of the group.

3. Know The Guest List

When you know some specific people that will be there, that you will want to meet, do your homework and find out about them. Company, awards, community activity, accomplishments. This is great fodder for conversation. How would you feel when someone you didn’t know yet, approaches you and says, “I loved the blog post you wrote on how to be a Mom and grow a business”? It certainly says something to me about them.

4. Work The Room

Mix and mingle, and try to have several warm interactions. Don’t monopolize or be monopolized. Engage and encourage mutual conversation and include others into it.

5. Pair Up With A Mentor

Find someone who knows the crowd and group and rely on them to introduce you around. Coming with someone others know and respect says something about you. “You are judged by the company you keep,” is the quote isn’t it?

Thursday, January 24, 2013

The job search is a challenge unlike any other when it comes down to the variety of emotions and experiences you are faced with. While relatively wholesome in nature, a challenging job search–on its hardest day–can knock even the most confident and sane individual off their feet. But similar…

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

You know all about getting your resume noticed. (Clean layout! Accomplishments, not duties!) But do you know what’s on the flipside? What you might be doing that could cause recruiters to overlook your resume—or worse, toss it in the trash?

Gasp! The trash? I know what you’re thinking, but the truth is, recruiters have dozens, even hundreds, of resumes to comb through every day. So, in an effort to cull them down to a reasonable amount, they’ll simply toss any that don’t meet what they’re looking for.

To learn more, I sat down with a few recruiters and asked them about the resumes that make the cut and those that get tossed. Here are three of their deal-breakers.

1. You Don’t Meet the Basic Requirements

First and foremost, review the requirements listed in the job description and confirm that you have the skills and experience the recruiter is looking for. This is the “first knockout factor” for many, says Christina Lord, a technical recruiter at Dealer.com. “Make sure you look at the requirements before applying to the job, and identify if your skills are a match,” she says.

Sounds basic, but job seekers make this mistake more often than you might think, thanks to career counselors and advice websites that say to go ahead and apply for a job even without all of the qualifications. And while you shouldn’t be afraid to aim high, no amount of resume tailoring will cover for the fact that you only have three years of management experience, not 10, or don’t have the technical skills required to do the job. “Resumes just won’t be considered if the basic skills aren’t there,” agrees Joanna Thomas, a human resources professional at an agency in Burlington, VT.A similar mistake: You have the basic requirements, but they’re obscured by extra or unnecessary information. “Lay it out simply for me—that means less investigation I’ll have to do,” says Thomas. For example, if you’re applying for a position in marketing, but your experience is a combination of marketing and sales, tailor your resume to focus on your marketing experience and skills, and minimize—or even remove—the sales information.

2. You’re Not a Culture Fit

It’s of utmost importance to recruiters to find a candidate who’s a “cultural fit as well as a skill set fit,” according to Thomas. They love when a candidate “gets it”—and they’ll toss your resume if you look like “just someone looking for a job.” (Think summary statements that cover a wide range of skills and industries, or cover letters that don’t mention the company by name—or at all.)

To avoid the circular file, you’ll want to tweak your resume based on the position and company, making deliberate connections of how your experience, skills, and personality are a perfect fit for the job. Use industry terms, spell out accomplishments that you know will make an impact, and don’t be afraid to let your personality shine through. Thomas remembers an applicant who listed, “I’ll drink an iced Americano any time, day or night” under the interests section, which not only revealed the applicant’s “personality and sense of humor,” it was a great fit for Thomas’ agency, a highly creative design firm with its own specialty coffee shop in the basement.

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

You’ve tirelessly searched for a job. You’ve made contacts. You’ve sent emails. You’ve gone through the interview experience.

Now you can just sit back and wait for the golden phone call, right? If only it were that easy.

For some job seekers, landing an interview can seem like a one-way ticket to getting hired. However, this is not always the case. There are probably dozens of people applying for the same job. These candidates could be saying the same exact things you did. They may even have better articulation or know the CEO in some way. In other words, they may be at an advantage. So, how are you going to stand out?

One of the things many job candidates fail to do correctly is taking those next steps after the interview. This means more than waiting for a phone call. It means closing the interview properly so that phone call happens.

Here’s how to tactfully close an interview and beat the competition:

Ask about next steps

When your interview comes to a close, you need to do more than shake the interviewer’s hand and leave. Always ask about the next steps in the interview process. For instance, the organization may require a second interview. They may need samples of your work. They may not anticipate actually filling the position for another month. You don’t want to be waiting for a response. You want to be completely aware of every step you can take to ensure a positive end-result.

How to do this better than the competition: It’s all about taking charge of the situation. If the company suggests sending a list of references, do so. If they want to connect on LinkedIn, don’t wait. If they’d like a second meeting, respond promptly. Always see that your plan extends beyond the first meeting.

Send a thank you note

One of the token ways to reach out after a job interview is to send a thank you note. Some suggest going the traditional route and sending a handwritten note through snail mail, while others recommend email. Some even advise doing both. The method through which you send a thank you note is obviously situational. For example, more formal organizations may appreciate something traditional, while laid-back offices would prefer an email. However, thank you notes are more important than ever because the pool is so saturated with candidates.

How to do this better than the competition: Regardless of your method of choice, remember a few things: Thank the interviewer for taking the time to meet with you. Additionally, note a few conversation points which particularly spoke to you. For example, if you and the interviewer connected on long-term organizational goals, be sure to mention it in the thank you note. If you both found a portion of the interview amusing -- and the situation is casual enough -- bring it up. This solidifies any sort of relationship that was made during the interview, which will hopefully translate into a job opportunity in the future.

Monday, January 21, 2013

If you're in the market for a new job — either part time or full — now is the time to write an action list. This is vital if you're in the midst of a career transition, planning for one, or building a new business in your second act.

Here are six ways to get started.

1. Be bold about social media networking. Spend time each day on social media sites, including Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. On LinkedIn, search for people you know and invite them to connect with you. Ask colleagues for LinkedIn recommendations to build out your professional profile on the site. Join your alumni, peer and industry groups on LinkedIn for more networking and to stay abreast of job openings. AARP's Work Reimagined group on LinkedIn is a good place for job hunters to start. Sign up for customized job alert postings in your field of interest.

Engage in social media by commenting on posts, retweeting and so on. Then make at least one lunch or coffee date each week to meet someone from your online network the old-fashioned way, face to face.

2. Join a nonvirtual networking group. I'm a member of the Transition Network, a nonprofit networking group for women over 50. It's based in New York but has a chapter in Washington, D.C., where I live.

Networking peer groups are active in churches, synagogues and community centers. You might also consider joining a peer group associated with your profession.

If you hear of a local event that sounds intriguing, push yourself to make room in your schedule. I try to go to two a month.

Real networking isn't about finding someone to help you get a job today. It's about making contacts over time. At each network event, I try to meet three new people and get their contact information. Afterward, I jot down notes on the backs of their business cards about where we met and what we discussed. I follow up via email in the next day or so and try to make plans to meet in the near future to continue our conversation.

3. Help others connect. Virtual introductions are easy and a win for everyone. Pride yourself on being a good matchmaker? Then when someone says, "I'm looking for someone who can do this," craft an email introducing the two parties and let them take it from there. It's a nice thing to do, and it feels good.

Friday, January 18, 2013

Over the years, hiring managers have born witness to every hiring, interviewing, résumé, cover letter and negotiation mistake there is.

You know what these blunders are. We've told you several times. Yet you (and hundreds of other job seekers) continue to make common job search mistakes.

From those who see your mistakes over and over, here are 16 common job search mistakes to avoid -- and some of them may surprise you.

1. You don't keep your options open"Candidates tend to think that if they interview for a job they will get an offer, so they do not apply and interview for multiple positions," says Joanie Spain, director of public relations and career services, School of Advertising Art, a graphic design college."They wait until one plays out completely, putting their job search on hold until knowing for sure they didn't get the offer."

"By having many more irons in the fire, you diversify the risk and disappointment that is inevitable when any single opportunity disappears," adds Roy Cohen, author of "The Wall Street Professional's Survival Guide: Success Secrets of a Career Coach."

"You also present yourself as a more passionate and energetic candidate. You're in the 'zone' -- a point where you're in the flow of information and ideas -- and that makes you more valuable."

2. You turn up your nose at job descriptions"Entry-level candidates are reluctant to apply for a position unless the job sounds like their 'dream job' or they have all qualifications listed," Spain says. "Rather than going on an interview to get more information, they base decisions about applying on the job description alone. They fail to see that all interview experience is good experience, or that, until there is an offer on the table, there is no decision to make."

3. You haven't perfected the thank-you note"Don't be too verbose with a thank-you note after an interview. Sending out a version of "War and Peace" can come across as desperate and needy for a job. However, sending a one or two sentence thank-you note comes across as flippant, not well thought-out and potentially shows indifference regarding the job to the employer," says Mike Barefoot, senior account manager at Red Zone Resources, a recruitment firm. "We encourage candidates to keep them to four to eight sentences."

4. You don't check your references"Always give out references that you've pre-screened. We sometimes see candidates give out references that were never checked with and the references feedback isn't always kind," Barefoot says. "Also, make sure they're predominantly managers. An occasional colleague is okay, but contemporaries and friends really don't carry that much weight in helping you land a position."

5. You've got poor business acumen"Managers are becoming more savvy and are taking candidates out to lunch for interviews. They want to see how you treat a restaurant staff and see the 'real' you. If you're rude to them or don't seem appreciative for their hard work to make your meal pleasurable, managers wonder how you'll treat contemporaries you work with," Barefoot says.

6. You have a messy briefcase"A messy briefcase can imply the person is unorganized, messy and unprepared, and that their work will be less than optimal," says Ronald Kaufman, author of "Anatomy of Success." "Someone who is neat, clean, organized and prepared in all areas conveys they're serious about getting a job and working."

7. You discount temporary positions"Many employers coming out of a recession want to hire on a temporary or temp- to perm- basis. We have already seen several contractors be offered permanent positions after they have proven themselves," says Jeffrey Weinstock, Esq. president, Rhodes & Weinstock, a recruiting firm. "Not only will the temporary position pay some bills, think of it as an audition for a potential perm position, or at least a way to get a good reference for another position."

8. You have a bad attitude"Poor attitudes come through in telephone calls and in interviews. If you are not positive, why would a potential employer want to hire you?" asks Weinstock. "It may take some time, but by being positive, by doing all the right things, by seeing each position as an opportunity, it will happen."

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Is your goal to organize your job search this year?As the New Year rolls in, many of us resolve to quit smoking, control our finances, or lose weight. I know I could shed more than a few pounds.

In order to write something that would be useful to you for your New Year’s resolution, but keep it career-related, I thought I’d do a little research first. According to the website Statistic Brain, the most popular resolution was to lose weight. (I think they are trying to tell me something.) The second most popular was “Getting Organized.” Third was “Spend Less, Save More.”

Organize Your Job Search With These Tools

While I can’t help you with the weight loss, (actually, I did major in Dietetics, so I should be able to, but I’ll stick to careers) I can help you with staying organized and spending less on your career management or job search.

Here are some great job search tools to help you keep your thoughts straight for little or no cost when it comes to your career.

1. Evernote

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways!

With this website, you can create “notes” within a “notebook” and further organize these into a “stack.” As a job seeker, you could have stacks like “Career Documents,” “Employers,” “Social Media,” and so on.

Within the “Career Documents,” you have a notebook with versions of your resume, another with cover letters, reference dossiers, and any other categories of correspondence. Start an “Atta Girl” or “Atta Boy” note with testimonials from performance reviews or your boss or stats from projects you worked on for inclusion on your resume.

Within Employers, start a notebook for each company on your target list. Notes might be: “Website Notes,” “Networking Contacts,” and “Financials,” for example. The possibilities are endless!

It’s pretty slick, and you can tag each note with keywords, so it’s easier to search for them than to find that old Post-It you scribbled on six months ago.

2. Jibber Jobber

This website has a funny name, but a seriously bad-ass capability to manage relationships, companies, and processes for your job search. Plus, the free version will keep all of your contacts and information indefinitely, so it’s available to you for your next search.

Jibber Jobber allows you to import social media contacts, keep detailed notes about the relationship, develop action items, and link them to your target companies. With video tutorials, webinars, and a great FAQ, it’s easy to learn and implement right away.

3. Doodle

Not the drawings you do in a meeting when you’re bored, but a tech-savvy way to set up networking meetings and keep yourself sane while doing it. Pick some times that are good for you to meet for coffee with your contact, set up a poll on Doodle, invite the participants, and confirm the final date and time.

Compared to emailing back and forth multiple times to set up meetings, it’s amazingly simple. Especially when multiple people are involved.

4. Dropbox

I don’t know what I’d do without this service. It gives me access to all of my files, audios, and images on my desktop, laptop, iPad, and phone. I can share stuff with people without having to e-mail it. Google Drive is great, too, but I prefer the layout of Dropbox and the ability to restore previous versions of documents.

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

With 12.2 million Americans currently unemployed and a reported 86% of employees interested in finding a new job in 2013, landing your dream job may be more competitive than ever.For those who may not know where to begin, the most important thing you can do is “get out there and start today rather than waiting to be totally ready,” says Carol Camerino, a certified career management coach. At a professional networking event hosted by job-search firm TheLadders, which attracted over 3,500 job seekers in New York, Camerino offered her seven-step plan for successfully rebooting your job search and getting back to work.Define What You WantAccording to Camerino, one of the most difficult questions for job seekers is also the most basic: What are you looking for? “Think of yourself as standing at the counter of the cosmic career Starbucks,” she says, “and the barista asks, ‘What do you want?’ Oftentimes, people don’t know how to answer.” She advises taking a step back and considering where you want to be. Which strengths and skills do you want to act on? What kind of people, culture and work environment do you want to invest your time in? Answering some of these foundational questions will inform your job search strategies. Moreover, people will be better able to help you if you know what to ask for.

Determine And Polish Relevant Skills“Chances are you’re used to your old company’s way of doing things,” says Camerino. However, to be a competitive candidate it’s important to understand which skills are most relevant and in demand to advance your job search. Then, create a plan to polish those skills or gain them. She recommends seeking internships, taking strategic volunteering positions, leveraging professional associations or creating a blog to highlight the expertise necessary for the job you hope to land.

Beware The Worst Job Search ObstaclesDespite their best intentions for landing a new job, Camerino sees job seekers fall into the same traps again and again. Chief among these barriers is a narrow, negative mindset, as many people get rooted in the identity of their former job. Instead, she recommends transmitting where you’re going versus where you’ve been. Another common obstacle is clutter. She says a disorganized physical workspace or job-search system can produce mental clutter that interferes with productivity. Finally, she suggests guarding your time. “When people find out you’re free during the day, your dance card can get full,” she says. Fall back on the fail-safe response, “I’d love to, but my job is job searching, so I can’t.”

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Happy New Year! I love new beginnings, and January 1st is the newest and freshest start of them all. If you’re a job seeker, now is the perfect time to reinvigorate your efforts, try some new strategies or consider a fresh perspective.

With those goals in mind, here are three career trends I’m predicting for 2013 and tips on how you can incorporate them, with the help of LinkedIn, into your New Year’s job search:

LinkedIn profiles replace resumesWe’ve seen this happening for some time — people leading with their LinkedIn profile vs their resume. I believe 2013 is the year that many employers will rely more on LinkedIn than traditional resumes to make their hiring decisions. Employers may still request traditional resumes, but those will take a backseat to your LinkedIn presence. The reasons why are numerous: a LinkedIn profile provides so much more information and richer context for one’s career path, skills and experience; a resume limits you to one or two pages while a LinkedIn profile is unlimited; and your LinkedIn profile is public, so employers consider it to be more trustworthy (i.e., very few people lie on their LinkedIn profiles because their connections would quickly call out any untruths or exaggerations).

In some ways, your LinkedIn profile needs to mirror your resume. Factual information, such as your job titles, dates of employment and educational credentials, need to match exactly. And your overall skill set, experience level and areas of professional focus need to remain consistent so you don’t appear to be two completely different job candidates.

Beyond those basic similarities with your resume, your LinkedIn profile is completely customizable. To make your profile most appealing to employers, first craft a compelling, keyword-rich headline, such as “Big Idea Salesperson with Track Record of Success in the Construction Sector.” Not sure what to say? Gather inspiration by researching the LinkedIn profile headlines of some successful people who have the type of job you want.

Next, add a professional photograph to your profile to help recruiters match your name with your face when they meet you in person. Then, make sure that the rest of your profile acts as a more comprehensive version of your resume, including all of your experience, unique accomplishments, measurable results (e.g., “decreased average customer service call wait time by over 2 minutes”) and recommendations from former colleagues and managers.

Once you feel your profile is the best it can be, tap a few trusted friends or family members to review it with a critical eye. Specifically, ask them two questions:

Is it clear from my profile what kind of job opportunities would be a good fit?

Is it clear what makes me unique and valuable?

If your friends can’t answer these questions, or their answers are not what you’re hoping for, then go back to the drawing board.

One last point: remember that your LinkedIn profile is a living, breathing representation of you, so regularly revisit your profile to make sure it’s up-to-date with new accomplishments. You can also keep your profile fresh and appealing to recruiters by frequently sharing interesting articles or brief commentary about topics that matter to you. These shares appear right at the top of your profile in the “Activity” section, so they will keep your profile looking active and compelling.

Monday, January 14, 2013

Though anxious to become employed, they often do not have clearly set goals established around that search. As well, they often don’t have good structure and processes to support their effort. Without a clear goal, and a good job search strategy, you’ll end up wandering in the proverbial desert and get discouraged pretty quickly. My suggestion is that a good job search starts with a clearly defined goal, and goes from there.

Here are 5 ideas on how to get your job search engine running…

1. Set a Goal!

As they say…if you don’t know where you’re going, any road will take you there. Even if you don’t know exactly “what you want to do” you can still identify other qualities you desire in a job or an employer, and construct a job search around that. You probably have an idea about things that are interesting to you. What kind of employers interest you? What type of work you would like to pursue, in what industry, in what location, by when? Pick your starting place, and go after it.

Write your goal down and look at it every day. When you ask people to help in your job search, the more specific you are, the better able they are able to help. Get a clear goal and let it saturate every part of your job search.

2. Create a Structured Workspace

You need a good workspace that’s devoted to your job search. Create one that gives you easy access to all of your necessary information. Your job is now to find a job. So create a workspace to accomplish that mission, just as you would if you were working from home.

Keep all of your materials at hand, like extra copies of your resume, business cards, or work product. Then you aren’t running around looking for them if you get an interview in short order.

3. Create Your Personal Profiles

This is all the self assessment you need to do before you ever write a resume, or go on an interview. Look at all the attributes you offer an employer, and clearly develop your marketing messages. How do you want to present yourself? What is your key value proposition?

These are the messages that go into your resume, cover letters, LinkedIn profiles and social media persona.

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

There are a variety of aspects of the job search a job seeker just doesn’t have any control over. Even with the great amount of effort you put forth, there’s no guarantee your experience level will impress your potential employer or you’ll make it past a phone interview.

But there is one part of the job search you do have complete control over — your attitude — and it’s arguably the most important piece of your job search.

The job search can do a significant amount of wear and tear to your mental outlook. The mixed range of emotions that job seekers experience on a daily basis can sometimes stretch from frustration to an overall lack of lack of confidence — neither of which lend themselves to any sense of positivity.While it’s no simple feat to overcome the negativity you’re faced with, there are many reasons why upholding a positive attitude allows you to remain powerful and resilient in the face of common struggles during your job search.

Aside from simply pushing you forward when you’re feeling worn down, your positive attitude can be used as leverage to help you stand out from the competition–you’ll be able to accept criticism and handle rejection better, and it will even help you search harder and potentially help you secure a job faster.

1. Be Kind To YourselfThe job search can turn you into your own worst enemy. Treat yourself with positivity and respect by focusing on your accomplishments and remaining proud of yourself.

2. Take ChargeBe accountable for your own actions by taking responsibility for everything you do. Don’t let a bad day send your search in the wrong direction.

3. Don’t Take Things PersonallyIt’s all too easy to take your struggles within the job search a little too personally. While it’s important to learn from your experiences, consider them as constructive criticism and grow accordingly.

4. Get OutDon’t let your job search turn you into a hermit. Continue your daily lifestyle of seeing your friends and family, as well as exercising regularly. All of these aspects will work to maintain a level attitude.

Monday, January 7, 2013

It’s a new year and hope springs eternal. Hope for health, happiness, and perhaps a new job. Finding that new job, however, can be a daunting task. But nail down the fundamentals of a good job search and your pursuit will be easier and more productive.

1. ResumeThe foundation of any job search is a good resume. Be sure to customize it for each and every job you apply to. Use the job description as a guide as you customize. It is important to address every requirement listed in the job description. By doing this you can make it impossible for the hiring manager to pass you over for an interview.

2. ReferencesLine them up right away. A variety of individuals can include managers, past co-workers, vendors you have worked with, individuals that have reported to you, etc. Then, when asked, provide the types of references required. Also, be sure to notify your references any time you pass their contact information along to a hiring manager. You can also coach them on what will be asked and how to answer if they are called.

3. Subscribe to Indeed or Simply HiredIndeed and Simply Hired are vertical search engines focused on job postings. They crawl the internet and pull every posting from every site to one location, their search results. They also offer daily emails with jobs that match predesignated criteria. A great resource for any job hunter.

4. LinkedInAny reputable company will look at the LinkedIn profiles for all of the applicants. Make sure yours is optimized for your job search. Social media consultant Jorgen Sundberg offers 12 great tips on how to do this.

Sunday, January 6, 2013

Amit De is the CEO and co-founder of Careerleaf, an all-in-one job search platform that cuts the time to apply in half. Connect with Amit and Careerleaf onFacebook , Twitter and LinkedIn.A new year is often seen as an opportunity for personal growth and rebuilding — establishing a list of resolutions to benefit yourself, and fighting against all odds to stick to it. The struggles from the past year begin to feel as if they were miles away, and you can finally move ahead toward greater things.For those individuals in hot pursuit of employment, the new year is the perfect time to reinvent your job search. While the previous year may have left you exhausted and frustrated, the changing of the calendar can provide a chance to reflect, and ultimately develop new more powerful strategies.With 17% of American businesses planning to hire new workers in the first three months of 2013, job seekers should be prepared to go the extra mile when it comes to standing out to potential employers. This means tossing out your generic resume, strengthening your networking and getting a little creative.

1. Go Niche

If your previous job search relied solely on the general job market or big name job boards, it might be time to take advantage of your niche. This simply means placing a strong focus on searching for a job within your specialized industry while emphasizing your unique personal qualifications.There are many ways to "go niche" — all of which will play a beneficial role in your attempt to stand out to hiring managers and recruiters. First, embark on a search to find niche job boards specifically dedicated to your industry and regional job boards for your area. These sites will give you access to a plethora of job listings that don't make it to larger job boards, smaller applicant pools (less competition!), and the potential to build direct connections with the people who will be hiring you. Then, begin completely immersing yourself in your niche to build resonance with those who matter most — attend industry networking events and get active on industry social forums.

2. Get Creative

The current job climate makes standing out a necessity. The monotony of the job search may have left you drained of your creativity, but it's important to place a high focus on looking for new ways to impress your potential employers in 2013. And this doesn't mean attaching your resume to a box of chocolate and having it hand-delivered to the hiring manager.Being a creative job seeker has little to do with working in a creative field. So, even if you don't consider yourself to be "creative," you can start by getting inspired by the success stories of other job seekers who got hired by implementing creative methods.There's certainly no set standard on how to go about this, but keep in mind that you want to go above and beyond to be noticed by your potential employer and showcase yourself as being the perfect candidate for the position. This may mean developing a video or multimedia resume or creating an infographic — do whatever it takes to give potential employers the unique opportunity to experience why you're better than the rest.

3. Upgrade Your Skills

Unemployment can often leave you feeling stagnant when it comes to your on-the-job skills. Your 2013 job search depends on a strong skill set to set you apart from other candidates.

Look for ways to keep your valuable skills in check while you seek employment. Many job seekers take on freelance opportunities, volunteer their skills to charities or work with causes they're passionate about. Your job search might even be the perfect time to focus on building new skills. Consider taking some online courses, participating in webinars, or attending conferences.

Friday, January 4, 2013

It’s a brand new year, a time where many people attack their New Year’s resolutions with excitement and resolve. If you were one of the many people whose resolution involves finding a new job or making career change, you may be wondering where to start. Here are nine steps you can take today to position yourself well to find your next gig.

Update your resume: How long has it been since you updated your resume? Chances are it could benefit from at least a few tweaks. Whether you’re actively looking for a job or not, it’s a good idea to keep you resume current as you never know when an opportunity may come along. Here are some resources that can help: How To Spruce Up A Boring Resume (via Mashable), Tips for Writing a Resume in Online World (via WSJ)

Update your LinkedIn profile: Most recruiters are actively using LinkedIn to find candidates. Will they find you? If so, what will they find? Do you have a (somewhat professional) photo? Do you have a compelling headline that will catch their attention? Is your profile 100% complete? LinkedIn is one of the top sourcing platforms for Recruiters, so how you present yourself here is important. You can find some great tips on how to create a compelling profile from LinkedIn expert Craig Fisherhere.

Create a LinkedIn job search agent: While you’re at it, use the advanced job search feature in LinkedIn to search for compelling jobs. When you’re on the results page, save those results and create an agent. You can configure the agent to send you daily or weekly listings of job opportunities directly to your inbox.

Create an Indeed.com search agent: Indeed.com is another great resource many job seekers may not be aware of. They are the #1 job site worldwide, with over 80 million unique visitors and 1.5 billion job searches per month. Indeed aggregates job listings from job boards, career sites, and other area of the web and presents them in a clean searchable format. You can also create job search agents like the above LinkedIn example. Here are some additional job search tips from Indeed.

Thursday, January 3, 2013

by Brittany SchlacterRemember that list of goals you created at the beginning of your job search? You promised to search every day for job openings, customize every resume, and network with industry leaders. If you’re like most job seekers, you might have abandoned a majority of your goals during the struggles you’ve been faced with during your time unemployed.

But it’s time to dust off your list of goals and give your job search a 180-degree turn. With a new year just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to revisit and revamp the goals you created for your job search ensure you get hired in 2013.

Refine Where You Search Even if you can boast the strongest resume in your field, your job search will flop if you’re looking for job listings in the wrong place. In 2013, it’s important to revamp your original job search goals to emphasize finding better places to search for openings. This means the large big-name job boards alone just won’t cut it anymore. In the coming year, embrace niche and regional job boards to boost your job search capabilities. These specialized, industry, or regional-based hubs for job listings will allow you to create a more focused search for job listings, as well as being provided with smaller applicant pools.

Network Smarter Many job seekers start out their job search promising to do more networking, but somehow it is overlooked as the search grows harder. Instead of simply setting networking as a goal during your job search, get more specific. Plan to network smarter. This means actually attending events and seminars within your industry, interacting with new connections, and looking for unique ways to rekindle relationships with previous connections. Spend time actually utilizing the online networking connections you’ve built up on LinkedIn, rather than waiting for the “right moment”.

Think Outside The Resume If you’re tired of spending time creating resumes that express your qualifications –but seem to do little in terms of getting any response — then it may be time to get creative. The new year is a perfect time to try out some new and unique ways to get hired. In this highly competitive job climate, there’s no room for the bare minimum when it comes to standing out to potential employers. Think outside the basic paper or PDF resume by looking into video resumes, infographic resumes, presentation resumes, and utilizing the product of the company you’re interested in to create a resume-like presentation. One size does not fit all when it comes to presenting yourself to an employer. Spend time coming up with unique way to knock the socks off of every company you apply to.

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

The year finishes fast. November slips past in the blink of an eye. The holidays race in with a whirl of celebrations, shopping and travel.

Then the inevitable moment arrives when we pause and, with determination, plan for the New Year, with a list of goals and a dollop of dreams.

If you're in the market for a new job — either part time or full — now is the time to write an action list. This is vital if you're in the midst of a career transition, planning for one, or building a new business in your second act.

Here are six ways to get started.

1. Be bold about social media networking. Spend time each day on social media sites, including Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. On LinkedIn, search for people you know and invite them to connect with you. Ask colleagues for LinkedIn recommendations to build out your professional profile on the site. Join your alumni, peer and industry groups on LinkedIn for more networking and to stay abreast of job openings. AARP's Work Reimagined group on LinkedIn is a good place for job hunters to start. Sign up for customized job alert postings in your field of interest.

Engage in social media by commenting on posts, retweeting and so on. Then make at least one lunch or coffee date each week to meet someone from your online network the old-fashioned way, face to face.

2. Join a nonvirtual networking group. I'm a member of the Transition Network, a nonprofit networking group for women over 50. It's based in New York but has a chapter in Washington, D.C., where I live.

Networking peer groups are active in churches, synagogues and community centers. You might also consider joining a peer group associated with your profession. If you hear of a local event that sounds intriguing, push yourself to make room in your schedule. I try to go to two a month.

Real networking isn't about finding someone to help you get a job today. It's about making contacts over time. At each network event, I try to meet three new people and get their contact information. Afterward, I jot down notes on the backs of their business cards about where we met and what we discussed. I follow up via email in the next day or so and try to make plans to meet in the near future to continue our conversation.

3. Help others connect. Virtual introductions are easy and a win for everyone. Pride yourself on being a good matchmaker? Then when someone says, "I'm looking for someone who can do this," craft an email introducing the two parties and let them take it from there. It's a nice thing to do, and it feels good.